BREAKFAST WITH NZ HEAD OF MISSIONS FOR CHINA

May 29, 2014

On Friday 23rd May, the New Zealand China Council in conjunction with the New Zealand China Trade Assn, supported by PWC, hosted New Zealand’s Ambassador to China, Carl Worker, as well as our Consul General in Shanghai Matthew Dalzell and our Guangzhou Consul General Rebecca Needham. Close to 90 people attended the breakfast briefing.

The visit to New Zealand was a timely reminder of the importance of our relationship with China. Ambassador Worker outlined the economic growth of China and the leadership transition. He also noted that recent issues around meat certification and the whey protein problem had been dealt with and that the recent visit by the Prime Minister and the way he was received was a clear indication of the health of the relationship, a relationship that had actually strengthened through recent issues.

The government also recognised that NZ need to invest more resources in China to respond to the issues faster and to keep up with the growing relationship. MFAT, MPI, NZTE, MBIE and NZ Police are all committing extra resources to China.

The latest trade figures put our two way merchandise trade at $19.83 billion. In April, exports to China were up 38% despite the recent cooling in dairy prices. For the year to April, China exports increased 52% to $11.44 billion. For Greater China, merchandise exports for the April year grew by 43% and now comprise 26% of total exports, compared to 20% for the same period last year. Overall, China accounted for 89% of the growth in NZ’s total merchandise exports to the world.